The Gold Coast of Australia is suffering another problem with jet skiers. This times it’s speeding personal watercraft riders who are on drugs. The police are coming down on these dangerous riders. According to the Gold Coast Bulletin, the police kicked off a two month crackdown in September. They quickly arrested three people. Two were on jet skis and one was in Australias version of a Jon Boat, called a “tinnie.” The water cops are running what is dubbed, Operation Whitewater.
The officers are looking to catch boat operators on drugs, juvenile boat thieves, and tinny hoons (people who soup up their boats and do “wheelies” and other crazy antics). Dangerous teen tinnie hoons are trying to fool police by disguising supercharged engines with six horsepower covers which don’t require a license.
Guys and girls who are operating their vessels under the influence or driving supercharged boats are wreaking havoc on the waterways. The three busts included one person on amphetamines and the other two had cannabis in their systems. As a result, officers from the Random Drug Testing Unit are going on patrols with the Water Police. A police helicopter is also part of the operation. Operation Whitewater is no joke!
“It has become something we need to address,” Acting Sen. Sgt Gray said. “I’m very disappointed about people driving and using drugs. It’s completely unsafe and they are going to hurt themselves or someone else.”
Referring to the recent string of boat thefts and out of control boat driving by juveniles, Sgt. Gray went on to say, “Someone is going to get killed. Parents have to take some responsibility for these kids. Their brains aren’t fully formed but they are ending up in a high-powered vessel to use.”
Operation Whitewater will be in full swing during the Christmas and New Year celebrations. If you’re going to use drugs, don’t get on the water!
